Machine for printing upon nuts, &amp;c



H. VARBLE.

MACHINE FOR PRINTING UPON NUTS, Sac.

APPLICATION EILED JUNE 11. 1919.

- 1,334,822. Patented M11223, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

mwmtoz H. VARBLE. MACHINE FOR PRINTING UPON NUTS, &c. APPLICATION ELLE!) JUNE mum.

,1,334,822. Patnted Mar. 23, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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MACHINE FOR PRINTING UPON NUTS, &c.

- APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1-.1. 19x9.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD VARBLE, OF EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA.

v MACHINE FOR IRIN'IING crow NUTS, 8w.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD VARBLE, a citizen of .the United States, residing at El Monte, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Printing Upon Nuts, &c.; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingv drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel machine particularlyv designed for marking or stam 'ing trade-marks or other indicia on nuts suc li nuts will be known to the consumer or purchaser.

The invention is also useful for marking other objects particularly of varying sizes, as will be readily appreciated when the machine is understood. I will, however, describe the invention as embodied in a machine particularly designed for stamping trade-marks upon English walnuts and like nuts and will thereafter setforth'in the claims the essentials of the invention and the novel features of construction and novel combinations of partsfor which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a complete machine for stamping or marking nuts.

Fig.2 is a detail enlarged transverse section thereof.

Fig. 3is an enlarged detail showing how the grippers on the carrier engage the nuts. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing how the nuts are printed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail illustrating how the chaincan carry nuts of different sizes.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of part of-the carrier chain.

Fig. 7 is a detail.

The machine as shown includes an end less carrier, or series of parallel carriers 1, each preferably composed of suitable links which may be strung upon rods Qextending across the width of the carrier.

As shown inFig. 2 of the drawings there as, walnuts so that the source or origin of the Specification of Letters Patent. .Patented lvIal'. 23, 1920. Application filed June 11, 1919. Serial No. 303,324. I i

may be a number of such carriers arranged spaced apart by collars or blocks 2? On the,

rods 2 intermediate the side links of adjacent carriers as indicated in Fig. 6. As each one of the endless carriers may be constructed alike a description of one will explain all. 'To each of the links are pivoted gripper jaws 3 and 3, which grippers face in opposite directions and may be pivoted on the links in any suitable manner, for example as indicated at 4 The grippers 3 and 3 attached to the same links face oppositely, and preferably have their outer free ends curved oppositely as indicated at 39. The gripper 3 on one link coacts with the opposed'grippers 3 on the connected link; and vice versa.

= The opposed but cooperating grippers 3, 3 .(on connected links) are placed equi-dis-, tant from the pivots 2 or rods connecting such links so that as the chain passes around theguiding cylinders or sprockets, hereinafter referred to, opposed coacting grippers 3, 8 will be caused to open or swing their outer ends apart (see Fig. 3) and thereafter they will close, or swing toward each other, as the links freassume their positions on a straight run of the carrier. The grippers 3, 3? are preferably provided with stop projections 3) adapted to engage the links 1 1 and arrest the jaws in normal position (see F igs. 3 and 6) substantially perpendicular tothe links 1 and they also prevent the cooperating grippers 3, 3 attached to adjacent links from swinging to and from each other. I

Each jaw is preferably provided with suitable spring means to hold it normally but yieldingly in a vertical position relative to the link to which it is pivoted. As shown a double spring 3 may be attached to each link intermediate the grippers pivoted thereon, and the ends of the spring bear against the adjacent jaws 3, 3. The endless carrier or carriers 1 may be supported on cylinders 4 and 4 and a larger cylinder l and be driven by suitable sprockets on the cylinders. The cylinder 4 is shown in Fig. 1 as arranged at the dis preferably so disposed that the endless carrier or carriers traverse a practically endless triangular path; the upper run of which, between the cylinders 4, 1 is substantially horizontal, and the run thereofbetween the cylinders 4 and i" is substantially vertical.

The cylinders 4, 1 are preferably small and the cylinder 4 of comparatively large diameter, and when the chain passes around the small cylinder 4 (see Fig. 3) the links 1' pivot on each other, or tend to close together, and this causes the opposed grippers 3 and 3 on adjacent connected links to swing apart or open up, as indicated in Fig. 3, so that nuts can enter between opposed grippers 3, 3 on connected links 1, 1 (see. Figs. 3 and 4) but the grippers 3, 3 on the same linkremain close together so that nuts cannot fall between adjacent rippers 3, 3 connected to the same link. y reason of this construction as the grippersenter the foot of the hopper and turn around the cylinder 4 the cooperating grippers 3, 3 open as they begin to travel around cylinder 4, and

then close upon the nut in the lower part of i the hopper (as indicated in Fig. 3) the grippers closing on the nuts and yieldingly holding same as the grippers rise out of the foot from the cylinder 4 toward the cylinder 42.

Owing to the yielding spring-pressed closure of the co-acting grippers they will readily engage and hold nuts of different sizes and in any position, as indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and will carry the nuts along to and over the cylinder 4. and to and under the printing roll 6 hereinafter referred to above the cylinder 4. Y

The roll 6 preferably extends across the entire width of the series of carriers 1 and is shown as provided on its periphery with a circumferential series of yielding stampingpads 7 for each carrier. The stamping pads 7 are preferably made of pliable rubber in the form of long hollow cones with flanges/7 around their bases, by means of which they can be secured to the cylinder by screws as shown. The stamping pads carry the desired printing surfaces on their outer smaller ends and are preferably made hollow, as shown, to give them more resiliency than solid rubber would have, as they will have to be capable of yielding toward the cylinder when stamping the larger nuts; and

also must be such that the stamping end or surface can make the proper impression u on the irregular face of the nut as indicated in Fig. 4. I prefer to make the stamping pads out of rubber as shown as the most simple construction for easily self-adjusting pads; but I do not consider the invention restricted to the use of such hollow rubber stamping pads as various other kinds of yieldingly supported pads might be used.

These stamping pads receive ink from an inking roll 8. This may be a felt roll; and it may be supplied with ink in any desired and suitable way, so that as the printingerly printed or stamped by some one of the pads thereon.

Power may be applied to the shaft 41 of the cylinder 4 which may carry a driving pulley i and motion may be imparted from shaft 49 to cylinder 6 by means of gears 4 and 6 as indicated in Fig. 1.

The ink roll 8 may also be driven at the same peripheral speed as the inking pads by means of a gear 8" on its shaft meshing with the gear 6 Other suitable arrangements of gearing or driving means may be employed.

Any desired number of carriers 1 may be arranged side by side in the machine and operated over the cylinders 4, 4, 4 as described; the adjacent carriers being suitably spaced apart.

Thepower is applied to the shaft of cylinder marked 4, which may have sprockets on each end to move the carriers in the proper direction. As cylinder 4* is small in diameter the grippers open as they pass through the hopper 5 and the nuts fall between the jaws of the open gripper-s, then as the carrierassumes a straight line, as it passes from cylinder 4* toward cylinder 4,

the grippers close and firmly hold the nuts which have fallen into them. The small projections on the grippers which come against the chain links keep the grippers perpendicular to the links as they pass around the small cylinders, and the springs allow them to give when the different sized walnuts are held by them.

.The vertical or nearly vertical position of the run of the carrier between cylinders 4 and 4* is necessary in order that loose walnuts from the hopper may not ride out on the chain.

Cylinder 4 is simply usedto change the direction of the chain from vertical to horizontal and is made of sufliciently large diameter to prevent the grippers opening enough to allow the nuts to drop. Cylinder which may be of any desired construction.

The springs cause the grippers to tightly hold the nuts and at the same time. allow the -grippers to spread apart when large nuts are gripped, as shown. in Figs. 4 and 5. The projections 3 rest on the links to keep the grippers perpendicular to the links until a nut has fallen into them.

The nuts will always come in contact with the stamps because the ends of the stamping pads 7 which are yielda'ble are just the same distance apart as the joints in the carrier, and the nuts always come on the joints of the carrier as shown.

The general construction and operation of the machine will be obvious from the foregoing, but of course it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in features of construction while embodying the essentials of the invention It will be seen that with this invention I can very readily operate upon nuts or objects of diflerent sizes; that the nuts will be sepaautomatically withdrawn from the mass of nuts in the hopper and individually presentedto the stamps; and that the stamps are yielding and will adjust themselves to, the opposed surface of the nuts or objects carried by the grippers whether it be small or large, regular or irregular; and each nut will be stamped; and further that any de sired number of nuts may be operated upon simultaneously.

While I have described ,the machine as especially designed for marking nuts it is obvious that the machine is adapted for use in marking other small irregular objects which may be automatically taken from a mass of such objects in a' hopper or receptacle; and I do not consider, the invention restricted to the marking of. irregular objects, as it could obviously be usefully em ployed for marking small objects of uniform size.

, Claims.

1. In a machine for marking nuts the combination of a hopper for nuts; nut marking means adjacent the hopper, a carrier; a guide for the carrier adjacent the outlet of the hopper; a guide for the carrier adjacent the marking means; a guide for the upper run of the carrierarranged above the hopper outlet and intermediate the other guides;

and oppositely movable swinging grippers pivoted on the carrierand adaptedto open and grasp a. nut as they pass around the guide in the hopper and carry the nut to the marking means, and then discharge it as they pass around the guide adjacent the marking means.

2. In a machine for the purpose specified, the combination of ahopper containing objects to be marked; means for marking the objects; a carrier; a small guide for the carrier adjacent the outlet of the hopper; a small guide for the carrier adjacent the marking means; a. larger guide for the upper run. of the carrier arranged above the hopper outlet and intermediate the other guides; and grippers onthe carrier adapted to grip an object as they pass over the small guide at the hopper, present the object to the marking means and release the marked object as the grippers pass around the small guide adjacent the marking means.

- 3. In a machine for the purpose specified, the combination of a receptacle for nuts; nut marking means arranged adjacent the hopper; an endless carrier consisting ofpivoted links; a small guide for the carrier adjacent the outlet of the hopper; a small guide for the carrier adjacent the marking means; and alarger guide for the upper run of the carrier arranged above the hopper a past the marking means, and discharge the marked nut as they pass around theguide adjacent the marking means.

4. Ina machine of the character specified having a hopper and marking means adjacent the hopper comprising a rotary cylinder having a plurality of circumferentially disposed yielding marking pads connected therewith ;-'the combination of an endless carrier :fiormedof pivotally connectedlinks;

a guide for the carrier adj acent the outlet of the hopper; a guide for the carrier adjacent the marking means; a guide for the upper run of the carrier arranged above the hop per and intermediate the other guides; and opposed grippers connected with adjacent links and co-acting to hold an object; said grippers opening as they pass'around the guide adjacent the hopper and taking. a nut therefrom; and again opening as they ass around the guide adjacent the mar ring means to release the marked nut.

5. In a machine for marking nuts; marking means; a hopper for holding objects to be marked; a carrier comprising an endless chain formed of pivotally connected links; two pivoted grippers connected with each link; adjacent grippers pivoted on adjacent links co-acting to hold a nut; means for yielding-1y holding the grippers in normal' position; a cylinder located adjacent the carrier passes around such cylinder the links are caused to pivot on eachother and thus open the grippers so that they Will take a nut from the hopper, the grippers closing on the nut as the carrier straightens out in passing away from such cylinder; a second small cylinder adjacent the marking means over whichthe carrier is caused to run and whereat the nuts are discharged by the grippers opening as they pass over such second 10 In testimony that I claim the foregoing 15 as my own, I affix my signature.

HAROLD VARBLE. 

